by
Rev Michael Jarrett
Mark 4:30-32
30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
Jesus
said, “ I will tell you another story, . The way of God is like this. This is
the way that God works. It is like a person who takes a mustard seed. It is the
smallest of seeds and you plant it in the ground and it grows up to fourteen
feet tall. It is the tallest bush in all of Israel.”
Jesus
said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear the riddles about the kingdom of
God.”
This is how it works… See the Kingdom of God is like a mustard
seed… HOW?
Well, like this. The Kingdom may begin in a small way, but its final result will be large. The disciples were tempted to see doubt and rejection as somehow invalidating Jesus' preaching of the Kingdom. "Not so," is Jesus' reply. The seeming weakness and smallness of the Kingdom is preliminary. Wait until the final results are in. Then you will see the greatness of the Kingdom. In a similar fashion the similitude of the leaven points out that the Kingdom does not appear to be doing anything. However, that leaven is working a growth that only later will be visible.
40
varieties
A
small seed, that grows into a large plant. HOW LARGE? 4-5 meters tall,
It withers in the heat and looks dead but recovers in the night
It grows wild, it is not the true garden variety here Jesus is referring to
It is not grand, or important (on the surface).. not a huge oak that everyone knows will be grand (if the Kingdom of God were grand we could everyone saved…but it is the losers, users, poor, sinners, and in between.. who make up the most of KOG. Not excluding the important but they are not the bulk)
Is like a weed, it grows everywhere, shoots up.
Starts out small but get big
It provides haven, multiples of places for birds to rest
Jesus is the seed that was buried..
The Kingdom
of God
§
It
has started growing ever since and cannot be eradicated
§
It
is not a high, important or lovely looking thing..
§
Its
greatest value is in its ability to provide
§
haven,
shelter, refuge and
§
rest (resting from winds)
§
(rest
from works, shelter from the enemy)
§
Food….
Or flavor, brings purpose to life, excitement and meaning when we see ourselves
being used by God
Small Beginnings, Insignificant
… like the mustard seed The smallest can become the greatest….
§
The
boy with the five loaves and 2 fish. Sharing
& caring
§
The
woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfumed oil SOWING
§
The
maid in the story of Namaan the Leper (2 Kings 5:2. The maid was a captive and
a prisoner but when her master Naaman needed healing, she still pointed him to
God and His prophet. She didn’t allow her circumstance to keep her from being
used by God. She seemed like a nobody, from nowhere..with no standing.. but she
shared her faith! SHARING CHRIST
regardless of circumstance
Insignificant things for us to do:
§
God’s Faithfulness… is what we should have faith in!
Not even the Word of God in that we read, believe,
confess… this still is about us! (not
that this isn’t important but it can turn into a formula that is a WORK… we are
not saved, or heard, or loved because of our WORKS! But because of the nature of God.
§
Small beginnings in the Kingdom of God can mean changing an eternity
for someone… this is more important and valuable than if we built a huge
“ministry” complete with huge buildings, huge staff, magazines with huge amount
of readers…..
Perspective is needed here…
·
If
I help one person back to God… one person hang on who feels like dropping out…
·
if
I help one dying woman eat better, sleep better….
Maybe
in this world it doesn’t matter…
But we are are talking about God’s economy.
What does God think about….
·
Hungry
and you fed Me
·
Thirsty
and you gave me Drink
·
In
jail and you visited me…
·
Sick
and you cared for Me
The point is simple…
when we
care for people,
share
what we have with them,
we are ministering to Jesus.
SOMETIMES THE GREATEST FEAR THAT GENEROUS SHARING PEOPLE HAVE IS TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF….
It is better to err on
·
the
side of mercy than judgment….
·
of
generosity than selfishness
·
Hope
than cynicism
·
faith
than fear….
Even if we turn out to be wrong God
measures
our heart and attitude in the giving….
You feel small and insignificant..
but like the mustard seed…looks are deceiving. God
lives in you! You are His hands, His feet and His lips! Where you go.. He goes.
He longs to speak to those around you!
So this day, this week.. this month…. Look for
opportunities to “do the Gospel”!
When you see someone who is discouraged, encourage
them and help them. Reach out to them with the hands of Christ.
·
If
you see someone sick, offer to pray with them. Remind them God loves them.
·
If
you see someone failing and falling.. speak the Word of life to them and point
them back to the Lord who loves them with such a passion….
·
If
you see someone “off the path” and heading toward destruction… in love share
the Gospel with them.. reminding them that God has a the one and only way to
happiness, righteousness and salvation.
And as you go about and “do the mission”
May the Lord bless you and keep you
May His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
May the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you and your household peace." '
AMEN!